Another media/political crock. In just about every large city in Colombia, the people in the working class and poorer barrios lives are at the mercy of gangs, mostly ex-paras. If they have a shop, a food cart, or anything, they pay the "vacuna" (vaccination) to these gangs. The ex-FARC members will effectively morph into some form of the same type of BS. Now the other "groups", ELN, ANC will most likely become bigger assholes until they also cut some deal with the government. Brutal thugs is what they are, period. The "longest running war in the Western Hemisphere"? Estimates of the FARC in the "war", approx 220,000 killed, 170,000 of those killed were "non combatants" This "deal" will only change the structure, nothing else. Transform the country, right!

When renting in Laureles, does the exact location matter? For example in BKK I would search for something really close to BTS, not sure how it works here or if the exact location there even matters as long as it's that district. Avenda 33, Avenida San Juan? Not sure where to pick and by what should I decide. Or is it smarter to live close to stations Floresita, Estadio etc. Thanks.

^ I like the Estadio area. Stay close to the metro if possible. La 70 is a great spot for dates.

Found sufficient apartment near Floresita I guess I will go for that if it's not some shitty area.

If anyone's interested in trying ayahuasca(known as yage in Columbia) while in Medellin, check out Camino Al Sol( http://caminoalsol.org/ ).

They offer biweekly sessions, and it appears to be an authentic community that's not doing it for profit(120,000 pesos for an overnight ceremony, according to this reviewer

http://www.marvinschulz.com/authentic-ay...-medellin/)

This is a great value, especially considering that many ayahuasca retreats tend to start at $1000 USD and above.

If anyone's had any experience with ayahuasca around Medellin, I'd love to hear about it.

I'll be in Medallo tomorrow brahs if anyone wants to meet up.

Very informative thread, I just got to Medellin last Thursday and I'm digging the vibe so far.

I have an AirBNB in Laureles for a week and then a buddy is coming down and we rented a condo in Poblado.

Down to meet up for drinks with anyone who's in town.

So it's official, all stuff booked. Going to land in Medellin at 3rd March, excited like a catholic priest when he sees a 12yo.

Quote: (12-12-2016 12:08 AM)Murf Wrote:  

Another media/political crock. In just about every large city in Colombia, the people in the working class and poorer barrios lives are at the mercy of gangs, mostly ex-paras. If they have a shop, a food cart, or anything, they pay the "vacuna" (vaccination) to these gangs.

not at all, that only happens in very specific barrios of certain cities. Bogota is pretty much free of that shit, so are many other cities.

Quote:Quote:

The ex-FARC members will effectively morph into some form of the same type of BS. Now the other "groups", ELN, ANC will most likely become bigger assholes until they also cut some deal with the government.

wrong again, over the past decades several thousands of guerrilleros and members of other groups have demobilized every year, for different reasons. Most of them didn't go back to criminal activities.

Quote:Quote:

Brutal thugs is what they are

they are just people like you or me. Siding up with certain ideology doesn't make you from another species. Most Farc members didn't even end up there because of ideological reasons.

Quote:Quote:

This "deal" will only change the structure, nothing else.

the structure of what? you don't know what you are talking about.

^You need too pull your head out of your ass if you think that the ex-FARC and paramilitaries aren't running drugs, whores and extortion rackets all over the country.

Turn of the New Year... Is Medellin still seeing more gringos each and every year?

First time I went you'd only see foreigners around Poblado. Last time I was there, you were seeing them everywhere.

I was in Medellin this past summer and there were quite a bit of foreigners. Mostly North Americans.

Medellin is now considered very popular among "digital nomads" so you are going to run into alot of those types.

The area i stayed in, Belen, had very few gringos compared to somewhere like Poblado. A bit more affordable also when it comes to apartments.

Quote: (01-13-2017 07:49 PM)scotian Wrote:  

^You need too pull your head out of your ass if you think that the ex-FARC and paramilitaries aren't running drugs, whores and extortion rackets all over the country.

There's guys all over Colombia that were inducted into some shitass rebel group or criminal organization when they were 12. Life is cheap to them.

They have no sympathy for you whatsoever. And they'll get your ass, no doubt.

They got me. I've been to 23 countries and always got out of every crap situation I've encountered. But Bogota got my ass. And that's ok. It was bound to happen. I can't stay in Podunk, USA all my life. You gotta live a little.

But recognize that it exists. Because it's there. Colombia ain't Disneyworld.

Quote: (01-13-2017 07:49 PM)scotian Wrote:  

^You need too pull your head out of your ass if you think that the ex-FARC and paramilitaries aren't running drugs, whores and extortion rackets all over the country.

The vast majority of the ones who demobilized aren't, for a fact.

Another thing are the ones who didn't demobilized and formed other groups, but the ones that went through the process of demobilization reintegrated with more or less success to civilian life. I know several of them.

Most of these demobilized people were "combatientes rasos", so they never ran these kind of bussiness in the first place. Combatientes rasos and big chiefs are different things. Most of the foot guerrilla are just poor peasants, a lot of them women, or underage kids. Anyway they aren't big criminals.

And there's no whore pimping since prostitution is not illegal here like in the USA. There's money laundering through clubs and other bussiness, if that's what you mean.

Is it relatively safe to take the taxi from Cordova airport? Would not think about it twice normally but with all my stuff I am careful.

Quote: (01-14-2017 01:46 PM)BlackUniform Wrote:  

Is it relatively safe to take the taxi from Cordova airport? Would not think about it twice normally but with all my stuff I am careful.

Yes, but Uber is always better. Or at least use Easy Taxi's app so you get taxi details logged. Just don't let anyone stop along the way "for gas" or anything like that, since they can use that time to get away from you and line something up at your arrival spot, like a mugging.

I'm planning a 3 weeks (alternatively 1 month) trip to Medellin.

1. As Kiev is the last city i have been to for game , can anyone compare Medellin with Kiev for me?

1a. - easiness of girls
1b. - english level of girls
1c. - english level of locals in general

1d. - number of foreigners
1e. - number of foreigners that are there specifically for game

1f. - accommodation prices
1g. - living costs in general

(but please all of these compared with Kiev, Ukraine)

2. Would it be cheaper (strictly from rent point of view) to stay 1 month instead of 21 days? And if so on what websites should I look for apartments ?

Quote: (01-15-2017 01:21 PM)quan82 Wrote:  

I'm planning a 3 weeks (alternatively 1 month) trip to Medellin.

1. As Kiev is the last city i have been to for game , can anyone compare Medellin with Kiev for me?

1a. - easiness of girls
1b. - english level of girls
1c. - english level of locals in general

1d. - number of foreigners
1e. - number of foreigners that are there specifically for game

1f. - accommodation prices
1g. - living costs in general

I'll reply using soccer analogies:

1a. - easiness of girls brilliant, exciting game, Medellin wins 3-1

1b. - english level of girls almost a draw, rather boring game and eventually Kiev wins on penalties-shoot outs (1-1, then 3-2 after extra-time)

1c. - english level of locals in general 0-0 but, sincerely, who cares: nobody watches this bottom-of-the-table game.

1d. - number of foreigners bit more in Kiev, Kiev wins by a thin margin, 2-1

1e. - number of foreigners that are there specifically for game bit more in Medellin, Medellin wins by a thin margin, 2-1, because Kiev smartly decided to ban Turks from participating in the competition: red-cards to all of them Turks!

1f. - accommodation prices no brainer, cheaper in MDL, Medellin wins 3-1

1g. - living costs in general tight, disputed game, MDL, marginally cheaper, winning at the last moment, in spite of the grivna devaluation, 4-3. But in European Summer time, it might be the other way round...

^ More foreigners in Kiev than MDE? Not by a long shot.

I also found Kiev noticeably cheaper than Medellin, generally speaking. Not to say MDE is expensive. But Ukraine as a whole can't possibly be beat in terms of making the most of Dollars right now.

I forgot to mention safety. I mean i did not forget it but i automatically assumed Kiev is 100% safe whereas Medellin is not. Than there's logistics : you don't want to be to far from the party . (at least in your first trip in a city)

So a comparison of the accommodation cost should be made between the gringo areas of the two cities .
El Poblado vs Bessarabska Market

A simple comparison on Airbnb shows an average price of 104EUR for Medellin and 67EUR for Kiev . The minimum decent apartment will set you back 40EUR in Medellin and 25EUR in Kiev . So i calculate Kiev is aprox. 40% cheaper than Medellin for accommodation . Of course all of these without considering the actual quality of the apartments .

A senior repped RVF member was drugged and robbed by a girl here the other night, she got his wallet and phone, this isn't uncommon. Look up scopolamine online.

Quote: (01-15-2017 03:53 PM)quan82 Wrote:  

I forgot to mention safety. I mean i did not forget it but i automatically assumed Kiev is 100% safe whereas Medellin is not. Than there's logistics : you don't want to be to far from the party . (at least in your first trip in a city)

So a comparison of the accommodation cost should be made between the gringo areas of the two cities .
El Poblado vs Bessarabska Market

A simple comparison on Airbnb shows an average price of 104EUR for Medellin and 67EUR for Kiev . The minimum decent apartment will set you back 40EUR in Medellin and 25EUR in Kiev . So i calculate Kiev is aprox. 40% cheaper than Medellin for accommodation . Of course all of these without considering the actual quality of the apartments .

Well, experiences differ: couple of years ago, I had quite good, clean accommodation in Medellin, Laureles area, for 25 usd per day (not through Airbnb, mind you, through an owner himself), and comparable accommodation in Kiev (a bit bigger apartment, granted), ten minutes' walk from Bessarabska Market, costing me 40 usd through AirBnb...

Quote: (01-15-2017 04:09 PM)scotian Wrote:  

A senior repped RVF member was drugged and robbed by a girl here the other night, she got his wallet and phone, this isn't uncommon. Look up scopolamine online.

I don't believe this cockamamy story. Everyone knows scopolamine is a wive's tale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ8PWYnu04
World's Scariest Drug (Documentary Exclusive)

Quote: (01-15-2017 04:09 PM)scotian Wrote:  

A senior repped RVF member was drugged and robbed by a girl here the other night, she got his wallet and phone, this isn't uncommon. Look up scopolamine online.

pretty scary stuff .

I see you are a veteran of Medellin . In your opinion how would one protect himself against such a attack ? What would be the best deterrent ? Get her ID , meet only in very public places . Do bars have video surveillance ? Is police helpful or is like Thailand where police cause more trouble than they fix ?

Quote: (01-15-2017 04:29 PM)BrewDog Wrote:  

Quote: (01-15-2017 04:09 PM)scotian Wrote:  

A senior repped RVF member was drugged and robbed by a girl here the other night, she got his wallet and phone, this isn't uncommon. Look up scopolamine online.

I don't believe this cockamamy story. Everyone knows scopolamine is a wive's tale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ8PWYnu04
World's Scariest Drug (Documentary Exclusive)

BrewDog himself probably used scopolamine on a certain forum owner, to get him to forget his previous banishment...